Introduction to Novena of Grace 2026

The Novena of Grace 2026 runs from 4 to 12 March at St Francis Xavier Church, Gardiner Street, Dublin. This introduction sets out where the devotion came from, how the nine days are kept here, and who is preaching this year. The nine posts that follow are transcripts of Fr. Brian's sermons, one for each day of the novena.

Where the Novena of Grace came from

The devotion began in the seventeenth century with Fr. Marcello Mastrilli, SJ. Near death from a severe head injury, he had a vision of St Francis Xavier and vowed to serve in the missions in Japan. He recovered, and Xavier's promise — that those who pray for nine consecutive days would receive the divine help they need — spread first among Jesuits and then far beyond them. The novena is prayed in March because 12 March is the anniversary of Xavier's canonisation.

The novena at Gardiner Street

Since 1832 the Novena of Grace has been kept in this church without a break. Each day of the novena we gather for Mass with a sermon, music and the novena prayer, and we pray especially for one another's intentions during these nine days together. If you cannot come in person, every service is on the church webcam and can be watched later on playback. Each year a new preacher is invited to give the sermon at all the novena Masses, focusing on the life and contribution of St Francis Xavier.

This year's preacher: Fr. Brian Christopher, SJ

Fr. Brian Christopher, SJ, entered the Society of Jesus in 1997 and celebrated 25 years as a Jesuit in 2022. He currently serves as superior of the Jesuit Community in Belize and as provincial assistant for international ministries.

Father Christopher has devoted much of his active ministry to the people of Belize. He has ministered to gang-involved youth and worked in community and economic development in Belize City. After serving as associate pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in San Antonio, Texas, he returned to Belize and served as pastor of St Martin de Porres Parish in Belize City.

He is a graduate of St Louis University High School and Saint Louis University. As part of his Jesuit formation he earned a degree in social philosophy and both a Master of Theology and a Master of Divinity.

What to expect over the nine days

Fr. Brian takes the life of St Francis Xavier as the thread through the novena — his friendship with Ignatius, his leaving of everything for the missions, his long journeys east, and the cost of a life spent entirely for others — and turns it toward the intentions people bring to these nine days. The next nine posts are transcripts of those sermons, taken from the audio of the recorded homilies, so the whole novena can be read as well as watched.